A benchmark on Forest Reference Level (FRL) of Bangladesh developed for measuring carbon emission and removal from atmosphere from forestry sector in Bangladesh has its findings of the benchmark shared on 11 April 2018 at national consultation is to obtain further expert inputs from policy makers, experts and relevant stakeholders for improvement.

Mr. Rakibul Hasan Mukul, Conservator of Forests and National Project Director of the UN-REDD Bangladesh National Programme briefed about the objectives and expected outcomes of the National Consultation on Forest Reference Level of Bangladesh for REDD+ under the UNFCCC. “I’m glad to see the draft report is now available for stakeholders’ feedback; It is a result of many things that the team has been working on to meet all the requirements under the UNFCCC,” he said.

Bangladesh Forest Department has developed this benchmark with support from its project namely the UN-REDD Bangladesh National Programme, a collaborative programme of UnitedNations Development Programme (UNDP) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The final draft report will be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by the end of 2018. Upon technical assessment by UNFCCC, the report will be finalized.

"Based on data provided in this FRL document, it will help formulate REDD+ Programme in Bangladesh to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in the country," said Mr. Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest, at the event.

From left to right: Mr. Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury at the event, participants from different departments and organisations, and the development of FREL/FRL in the context of Bangladesh

Special Guest of the programme Dr. Nurul Quadir, Additional Secretary, MoEF said "Forest Department now has in-house capacity to estimate GHG emission and removal. This is a significant achievement."

Dr. Sultan Ahmed, Additional Secretary and Director General, DoE said that Forest Department was now reached a turning point with all capacity of the staff, and hoped that through the development of the FRL, it would help Bangladesh meeting its commitment to flight climate change.

Chair of theprogramme Mr. Mohammed Shafiul Alam Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, Bangladesh Forests Departmentsaid, “Bangladesh forest department has developed this FRL for the first time, and the development of a National REDD+ strategy for Bangladesh is also under way with the support of UN-REDD Bangladesh National Programme." He said it is important to engage with key stakeholders in the process development and he was happy to see such results.

Among others, representatives from various government ministries and departments, donor agencies, NGOs, education and research institutions, mass media were also present at the consultation.